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Top 5 Hearing Aids for Seniors Reviewed in 2019

Best Senior Hearing Aids – Reviews & Analysis

If you’re looking for the best hearing aid and you have little time to spare and read our hearing aids reviews, the following short paragraph contains all the useful information you need to find the right product. After a careful examination of what the market has to offer, we have concluded that the Otofonix Hearing Amplifier is the one you should consider. This unit has four preset program configurations that you can make use of according to the place or situation that you find yourself in. The 12-band digital sound processing will guarantee that you get a high-quality sound so that you never have difficulties in picking what people are saying. You also get a layered noise reduction that works wonders in reducing background noise. If the Otofonix Hearing Amplifier is not available, we recommend you consider getting the Sentire Med SM-300 BTE as it is a product that offers similar features.

Products in Demand – In-Depth Reviews

With so many options available for sale, you can be forgiven for not knowing what the best non-prescription hearing aid is. To help you in that regard, we have compiled a list of the devices that have garnered the most positive reviews of hearing aids. Take a look below and see for yourself.

Otofonix Hearing Amplifier

If you want a unit that can be adjusted easily and that can help your senior face all the everyday tasks without missing one sound, the Otofonix Amplifier is the alternative worth considering. This nifty unit features four preset configurations. The standard setting is meant for regular listening in a quiet environment that has minimal background noise.

The noisy setting does what it says; it uses the built-in adaptive and layered noise reduction system to reduce background noises from crowded places such as restaurants. The treble setting is meant to reduce the intensity of annoying high-pitched sounds such as squealing, whistling, or any feedback that the device might produce.

When you want to go to sleep or simply don’t want to pay attention to the sounds around you, you can use the quiet setting. This setting can also be used as a battery saving mode to preserve the battery of your device.

Sentire Med SM-300 BTE

The Sentire SM-300 BTE is an excellent and affordable hearing aid that has won the satisfaction of the many customers that have tried it, and despite the low price, the quality and reliability that it offers cannot be denied. It features 2-channel wide dynamic range compression modes that can be used to improve your listening environment or conditions so that you always get a crystal clear sound.

The noise reduction on both modes is controlled with a digital chip circuitry which means that the device is able to isolate even the smallest voice and enhance it while ignoring the many background noises. The simple touch volume controls rocker has an intuitive design that makes it very easy to personalize the volume.

You also get an easy-to-use micro-USB rechargeable charging port that gives you 16 hours of use with only 2 hours of charge time. This can eliminate the trouble of having to continually replace the battery, saving you both time and money.

LifeEar Cutting-Edge

Missing words and misunderstanding everything can be not only frustrating but also embarrassing, and the LifeEar Cutting-Edge seeks to solve this problem with a tiny, high-quality and cutting-edge alternative. By using dynamic digital amplification, this unit will bring out conversations so that you can finally understand everything that is being said, and start enjoying yourself once again.

The advanced band processing technology that this alternative uses will help you save a lot of money as you will no longer need to pay thousands of dollars to hear better. The LifeEar Cutting-Edge can boost the frequencies that are associated with human voice while also isolating and removing unneeded and distracting background noises.

If you don’t want to feel embarrassed while wearing a hearing aid, you can rest assured since this model is as thin as a pencil and once behind your ear, it will become almost invisible. The small size and weight also make it incredibly comfortable. Eight batteries are included in the package.

Zyon Digital

The Zyon Digital comes with four proprietary modes that are optimally tuned to meet the hearing needs of most seniors. The receiver-in-canal design that this model employs allows for a higher sound clarity with lower distortions. The construction of this device uses only premium-grade components that are typically found on costly hearing aids.

Wind noise, whistling, and feedback will be reduced entirely by the fully digital processor while the wide dynamic range compression will amplify the sounds that are difficult to hear and reduce the loud ones. This will ensure that the device will never get too loud as to become uncomfortable and possibly damage your ear even further.

The intelligent volume recording system can adapt to your environment, raising and lowering the volume depending on the sounds that are present. As a plus, the Zyon Digital is ready to be used out of the box. It is a no nonsense model that does not require a prescription or any fitting.

Unitron Ziel P

Comfort, affordability, and performance, these are the three features that the Ziel alternative seeks to offer to all its customers. With the help of its proprietary EasySelect technology, finding the best fit will be easier than ever. You get a choice of 12 preprogrammed audiograms that match the most common audiogram shapes so that you don’t have to adjust and try multiple trimmers.

Get ready to experience the world in a new way as sounds that were once imperceptible will now be played loudly and clearly by this innovative and affordable device. Weighing just 100 grams, you will find that wearing this unit is much more comfortable, so much so that you will often forget that you are wearing it.

The Ziel model also features a straightforward digital volume control combined with an efficient feedback management system and noise reduction so that you enjoy the clarity of your loved ones’ voices once again.

Good hearing aid accessories

We all want our devices to last, and while investing in a reliable hearing aid is a great first step, if you care about the longevity of your purchase, some hearing aid accessories are mandatory. These accessories can help keep your device in mint condition. Take a look at our list if you have the time.

Power One p312

To ensure that your hearing aid works perfectly throughout the day, you need to be careful about the battery level of your device. There’s nothing worse than enjoying yourself and speaking with your friends when, out of nowhere, the battery of your trusty hearing aid just dies. This is where purchasing the Power One p312 can be a smart decision.

This product offers a great value for the money as you get a pack of 60 batteries at a price that is hard to beat. This way you can purchase this pack, and you can be sure that if you’re at home or away, you can always keep a few spare batteries around the house, in your purse, or backpack.

The batteries are mercury-free and they offer great performance. The customers that have used them have declared that these cells are good for six days of constant use.

Dry and Store Global

The Dry and Store Global is an awesome multi-purpose accessory that can be used for all types of hearing instruments, not only hearing aids. You can also use this purchase for noise/tinnitus maskers, in-ear monitors, and cochlear implant hardware.

This versatility ensures that you will get an excellent value for your money since you’ll be able to use your purchase for a wide variety of purposes. With this nifty accessory, you will remove moisture, kill germs, dry earwax, and deodorize all your hearing instruments. It will not only help keep the instruments hygienic but also prolong their service life.

Moisture is the main enemy of any hearing instrument, and with this accessory, you’ll be able to keep it at bay. As a plus, since this will remove earwax and any other small debris that can find its way inside your hearing aid, you will be able to enjoy better sound quality.

Jodi-Vac Consumer

As the name already implies, the Jodi-Vac Consumer is an accessory that has been built with the needs of the consumer at heart. It is an affordable hearing aid cleaning solution that works well with every one of the hundreds, if not thousands of models available on the market.

It should be used each night so that you avoid the accumulation of wax on your instrument. Because people don’t like their devices to be clunky and hard to use, this unit is a compact, portable and easy-to-use purchase. You only have a simple on and off switch, and that makes operating this unit an effortless task.

The attached tubing is coiled, and it can be extended to around 2 feet. The wax collects in the filter that needs to be replaced every six months. It is easy to clean, and a ball located behind the filter is used as a flow indicator.

Zephyr Dry & Store

Keeping your hearing instruments dry is something that every user should treat with the importance that it deserves. A hearing aid that is not cleaned and dried on a nightly basis can get damaged or have its performance affected. A dryer is a must-have accessory and the Zephyr Dry & Store is an excellent alternative.

This electrical appliance is designed to be used nightly to store and care for all your hearing instruments. It has an 8-hour cycle, and it utilizes moving, warm air and desiccant technology that is proven to provide the maximum drying effectiveness.

Using this product is easy, you’ll just have to place the hearing instrument in the inside compartment and leave it there while you enjoy a good night’s sleep. This value-priced drier follows the quality standards set by the other flagship products constructed by Zephyr, all at an affordable price.

Jodi-Vac Pro Vacuum

This sturdy, yet small unit is very quiet and can get the job done in an efficient and fast manner. There is no wonder that this product has garnered only positive reviews since the quality that it offers for the price is unmatched.

This product is also a professional favorite and can be used at home or in the office, but it can also be transported quickly due to its small size and weight. All the components of the Jodi-Pro Vacuum operate at 12V DC so that it can clean even the tiniest particle of wax from the speaker opening of your hearing aid.

It has been tested and proven to work efficiently with all hearing aids, no matter the size, brand or model. The tips and filtered syringes are all replaceable so that your vacuum keeps operating at full capacity. The use of this unit removes the need for cerumen guards or wax springs.

Our Yearly Guide

Finding the best hearing aids for the money is a task that requires a lot of research, and that takes time and energy. In this day and age, not many people can afford to spend countless hours to educate themselves on the many features that each product offers.

Add to that the fact that there is now an almost limitless amount of alternatives to choose from and you have yourself a recipe for disaster. We know too well just how hard settling for a product can be.

Reading reviews of some of the most appreciated hearing aids is not enough, which is why we have also consulted many consumer reports, surveys, and specialized resources so that we can pinpoint the key features that you need to consider when purchasing a hearing aid for yourself or a family member.

Comfort

The critical feature to consider when purchasing your first hearing aid is the comfort that it provides you. If you’ve ever worn a set of headphones that didn’t fit well, you know just how frustrating it can be to have something not fit properly inside your ear.

With a hearing aid, an uncomfortable fit can be even more of a problem since you’ll end up wearing it for hours every day. To customize your hearing aid’s fitting and programming, you either need to consult an audiologist or you can purchase an alternative that comes with an adjustable fitting.

Those options are great since they allow you to adjust the fitting on your own until you are satisfied with the result.

Audio Format

In terms of the audio format, there are two methods for amplifying sounds: analog and digital. The analog is the simplest option – it receives sound and amplifies it. The downside of this option is that it is not that useful in solving age-related hearing loss.

An age-related hearing loss is typically the result of the ears able to pick up a frequency range that is narrower than before. It is not about amplifying the sound, but about being able to differentiate between many sounds, such as being able to pick up the voice of your grandson in a room that is full of people.

Digital hearing aids are designed to pick up the sound with a microphone, but instead of merely amplifying it, the sound is also analyzed and processed. This allows the digital alternative to filter out background noises. The digital option is clearly the winner here, which is why you will be hard-pressed to find many analog devices on the market nowadays.

Types of hearing aids

There are two main types of hearing aids: in-the-canal and in-the-ear models. The kind that you need depends much on the nature and the severity of your hearing loss. Minor hearing disorders like the one that can be associated with age can often be improved by using an in-the-canal aid.

A moderate hearing loss problem requires more power, and this is where an in-the-ear model can be of real help. The in-the-ear design can help isolate background noise better and give a powerful and precise sound that is easier to hear.

For severe and profound hearing loss, we recommend you follow the advice of your audiologist. He or she will probably recommend behind-the-ear or receiver-in-canal models since they offer the best amplification.

Other features to consider and accessories

Modern hearing aids come with lots of additional features, and that list grows daily. One of these features that we believe to be extremely useful is the presence of a directional microphone. A directional microphone will help you pick up different sounds when you’re in a social environment that has a lot of background noise.

Some models can also connect wirelessly to Bluetooth-compatible devices such as your smartphone or television. If you’re looking for the best headphones for hearing aid wearers, there are lots of alternatives to consider. Nowadays bone conduction headphones are starting to gain popularity, and they are an excellent choice since they allow you to hear the surroundings while also listening to music.

Frequently asked questions about hearing aids

How long will a hearing aid last?

Over the last years, hearing aids have undergone something of a revolution. New features are added every year and the overall design and durability are improved continuously. If you’re thinking of getting one or you’ve been prescribed a specific model by your doctor, you probably wonder how much such a device can last.

On average, a hearing aid has a lifespan of around three to seven years. The periods depends on the style since in-the-ear hearing aids can last up to four or five years while the behind-the-ear style has a five to six-year lifespan. Taking care of them correctly can further prolong their service life.

Can a hearing aid stop tinnitus?

Tinnitus can be a real nightmare for many people that have to deal with it every day. About ten percent of the US population suffers from it and out of that number, almost 27 percent are people aged 65 to 84. Studies have found that a hearing aid can stop the symptoms of tinnitus and make the life of those people much more manageable.

A hearing aid amplifies background sounds which means that the loudness or the predominance of tinnitus is reduced significantly. While the ringing might still be there, having other sounds to focus on can be a real relief for many people.

Can hearing aid batteries be carried on a plane?

Yes, you should have no restrictions when it comes to carrying hearing aid batteries on a plane. The one thing that is important to remember is that each airline or airport can have different requirements for electronic devices and power supplies. These requirements can vary depending on the agency, country, airline, equipment, and year.

There’s also the fact that ear technology changes every year and that adds another variable to the formula. The best thing you can do to ensure that you don’t run into any problem is to consult the guidelines of the airport or airline that you intend to use.

Why are hearing aids so expensive?

The price of a high-quality hearing aid can discourage a lot of people since many of the prescription hearing aids can cost several thousand dollars. This price is quite high, especially when considering that most options contain components that are found on every laptop or smartphone, so the question of why it costs so much appears.

The answer is quite simple once you consider the size of the device. A good hearing aid needs to miniaturize many components and that can be expensive. You also have to consider the amounts of money that each manufacturer invests in the research and development of products.

How to dispose of hearing aid batteries?

The disposal of your hearing aid batteries depends on the type of battery that you have. If you have a type that contains no mercury, getting rid it is an effortless task. Mercury-free battery options are safe to be disposed of in household waste. To check if your batteries contain mercury or not, you’ll have to consult the packaging.

If you find that your batteries contain mercury or if the manufacturer did not write “mercury-free” on the package, you should immediately assume that it is not safe to throw in regular garbage containers. To dispose of these batteries you should go to a recycling center that accepts batteries with mercury.

How to clean a hearing aid?

The main enemy of any hearing aid is the ear wax and humidity that it can accumulate on its surface. While earwax is a normal occurrence and there’s nothing you can do to stop your ears from producing it, you can instead keep your hearing aid clean and dry.

A hearing aid vacuum is a sound investment and it can make cleaning your device an effortless and quick activity. You should clean your hearing aid every night or morning. To fight humidity, you can purchase a hearing aid dryer or dehumidifier. These accessories will not only keep your device clean but will also extend its lifespan.